Asia
2014
Indian journalist jailed in Assam state for alleged links to militants
New York, September 8, 2014–An Indian journalist who has been held in police custody for six days was denied bail in court today and faces possible anti-state charges over accusations that he promoted an outlawed separatist group after interviewing its commander, according to news reports.
CPJ calls on Indonesian authorities to release jailed French journalists
Dear President Yudhoyono: The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent, nonprofit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide, is writing to express its concern about two international journalists who have been imprisoned in Indonesia since early August.
Free press commitment from both contenders for Afghan presidency
With little good news coming from Afghanistan amid the escalating violence and electoral standoff, here is something that goes against that tide. A coalition of Afghan journalist groups has got both presidential candidates in the disputed runoff election to endorse a 12-article statement of support for Afghanistan’s media — “Commitment of the Candidates of the…
Back-to-back display killings of journalists unprecedented
The apparent back-to-back murders of two American freelance journalists by the same group are unprecedented in CPJ’s history. The beheadings on camera in a two-week period of first James Foley and then Steven Sotloff appear to be an acceleration of a pattern–dating at least to Daniel Pearl’s killing in 2002–of criminal and insurgent groups displaying…
Threats and attacks against press amid political crisis in Pakistan
The ongoing political crisis in Pakistan turned deadly over the weekend with three protesters dead and at least 500 wounded in the capital, Islamabad. As is often the case, the press was not spared from violence, with dozens of journalists covering the rally injured by police or protesters, according to news reports and the Pakistan…
TV presenter for religious programs murdered in Bangladesh
New York, August 29, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Bangladeshi authorities to investigate the murder this week of a TV host, and to identify the motive and bring the perpetrators to justice. Nurul Islam Faruqi, who was also an imam, used his religious programs to speak out against subjects including Islamist groups and…
Several journalists attacked while covering ‘Freedom March’ in Pakistan
New York, August 25, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on all sides to respect the role of journalists and media workers covering an anti-government demonstration in Pakistan. Journalists from various news outlets have been attacked while covering the “Freedom March”, according to news reports.